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float 1 of 2

verb

Definition of floatnext
1
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a canoe floating down the river particles of dust floating in the air

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to wander
to move about from place to place aimlessly lost touch with a childhood friend who spent much of his adult life floating from place to place

Synonyms & Similar Words

float

2 of 2

noun

ˈflōt How to pronounce float (audio)
as in dock
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers the crew put the cargo on the float before heading back down the river

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of float
Verb
The living room flows into the kitchen and dining room, separated by floating walls that give the beams overhead room to breathe. — Alex Beggs, Architectural Digest, 21 Sep. 2026 Left floating adrift are the mothers, fathers and children who are deprived of the same access and options as kids in other states. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
Noun
These include whether a stock is a nano float (under 1 million), whether a company is domiciled in certain foreign countries and exercising extreme caution when spotting possible overseas manipulation. — David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026 The float-out marks one year since Meyer Turku began construction on the new Icon-class ship with a keel-laying ceremony. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for float
Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
  1. hover
  2. wander
  3. dock
  4. sail
  5. roam
  6. wharf
  7. swim
  8. drift
Verb
  • Architect Ma Yansong's big, billowing building almost seems to hover around and envelop the surrounding structures, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • During Friday night's game against Wake Forest, Mensah set an ACC record with 24 straight completions and has been hovering above the 90% mark in that category for most of the season.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of hover
Verb
  • The crawlers wander about the plants for a short period of time and then begin to feed and create a waxy covering.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Customers accidentally wandered in, thinking the restaurant was already open.
    — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of wander
Noun
  • Phones, tablets, and laptops that support DisplayPort Alt Mode can connect without relying on wireless casting, and compatible Nintendo Switch setups plug straight in without a dock.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Minor to moderate flooding of low-lying lots, parks docks and roads can occur near the shoreline.
    — Garfield Hylton, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of dock
Verb
  • For longtime fans of the brand, Ponant is a reliably luxe way to sail expedition-style to adventurous destinations—though as one fellow traveler and repeat guest pointed out to me, several other cruise lines now offer this once-rare combination.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The family sailed on the Lusitania in 1914, a year before a German torpedo sank the ship and killed nearly twelve hundred people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of sail
Verb
  • Its ships impressively roam the globe, with sailings from seven to 244 days across all continents.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Dozens of species roamed and rutted on a tropical Earth, from the pig-sized Menoceras to the significantly larger Paraceratherium linxiaense, an animal almost as large as one of London’s red double-decker buses.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of roam
Noun
  • But in 1820, Shippingport had about 600 residents, three wharves for steamboats, taverns and a flour mill.
    — Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The redevelopment would change that by extending and upgrading existing wharves and dredging areas around the docks.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of wharf
Verb
  • Jetta was trained to swim to the pool’s edge three times a day and inhale deeply through the nebulizer, which was crafted specially for a beluga blowhole.
    — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026
  • More energetic outdoor activities include swimming in the saltwater pool, walking or jogging on the Deck 15 track, paddle tennis, golf cages, and a mini-golf course.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of swim
Verb
  • Unfortunately, over the decades, the program has drifted wildly off course.
    — Christina Smith, Baltimore Sun, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Attempt techniques like progressive muscle relaxation and body scans, box breathing, or even picturing your thoughts as clouds that are drifting away.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of drift

Browse Nearby Words

flivvers
float
floated
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Cite this Entry

“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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